Last night, President Obama laid out a bold plan to address our nation's persistent economic problems. The American Jobs Act will help provide good jobs that support families; public services that build communities; and resources for schools to provide students a high-quality and robust education in buildings that are safe and healthy.

President Obama has made education a top priority. Through his plan, at least 35,000 schools would be modernized, putting people to work.

"There are schools throughout this country that desperately need renovating. How can we expect our kids to do their best in places that are literally falling apart? This is America. Every child deserves a great school—and we can give it to them, if we act now."

The American Jobs Act focuses on putting educators back in their classrooms.

“Pass this jobs bill, and thousands of teachers in every state will go back to work. These are the men and women charged with preparing our children for a world where the competition has never been tougher. But while they're adding teachers in places like South Korea, we're laying them off in droves. It's unfair to our kids. It undermines their future and ours. And it has to stop. Pass this bill, and put our teachers back in the classroom where they belong.”